Candidate for Chicago City Council

About the Candidate

Name: Angela Clay
DOB: March 30, 1991
Family: Myself, two nieces 8 & 10-years-old. My family has actually lived in the 46th Ward for over 80 Years!
Occupation: HR Analyst
Political Experience: Other than school politics, none officially
Website: clayfor46.com

Candidate Statement

Hi there, my name is Angela Clay and I am your next 46th Ward Alderman. As the only candidate from this community the 46th Ward has been home to me for twenty‐seven years and home to my family for over eighty years. I graduated from the only high school in our Ward, Uplift Community High School, and proudly stand before you as a DePaul graduate with a degree in Public Policy and Urban Studies. As the former youngest President of Voice of The People in Uptown, my passion and life’s work has been dedicated to serving all of our neighbors no matter your nationality, income, religion, or gender.

Because of this amazing community I was able to take advantage of an immense number of resources such as mental health providers, affordable housing, and amazing teachers that came from my same community. All these resources however are currently being eliminated or threatened with extinction due to the obvious change forcing poor, low income and working‐class families out of our Ward. Uptown is one of the most diverse communities in the world with over forty languages spoken! In the last two years new developments have honed in on our community, tapped into our public official and used our TIF dollars to strategically change the diversity and culture of the very community that has produced doctors, engineers, activist and professional athletes to name a few. All of our neighbors agree that we need stronger policies to protect us from displacement but when are we going to make our voices heard?

As your Alderman my goals are simple, keep our community culturally and economically diverse by preserving and expanding affordable housing, use TIF funding in its truest form by investing back into our schools, parks and other community needs, as well as bring economic development that will employ our youth, homeless and  veterans. This election is the deciding factor for the future of our neighbors and our community. The 46th Ward has enough room for everyone to grow and prosper, it’s up to us to stand on the right side of justice to make sure that happens.

Candidate Q&A

What is your vision for this office?

My vision for this office is to strengthen our community and bridge gaps between needs and resources. I envision a mixed income community that develops according to its needs and includes every neighbor’s best interest.

What is the most pressing issue facing constituents, and how can you help address it?

The most pressing issues are access to and the preservation of affordable housing, access to meaningful employment within our Ward, funding for resources such as mental health institutions, and great public schools. As Alderman I can address these issues by pushing for new redevelopment to include a percentage of affordability, using TIF funds in a meaningful informed manner that directs it to the correct sources, as well as advocating that our neighborhood stays diverse with the best public schools.